Wheelhouse Weekly, September 27, 2022

Volume 28… Number 39, Sept. 27, 2022

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• U.S.-Flag Fleet Pushes Back Against Calls to Waive Jones Act in Wake of Hurricane Fiona
• MARAD Announces New Initiatives To Support Cargo Preference Compliance
• Friends of Maritime in Congress Work To Boost Funding for Ferry Systems
• Ships Warned Over Gas Leaks From Nord Stream Pipeline
• MM&P Tampa Hall Closed Due to Hurricane Ian

Mark Your Calendar:

• Seattle Membership Meeting on Oct. 4
• In-Person Membership Meeting in MM&P Boston Hall on Oct. 18

Job Opportunities:

• Job Openings on the Great Lakes
• Offshore Jobs Available!

And:

• Covid-19 Vaccination Required for All MITAGS Students; MITAGS Requires Negative Test for Unvaccinated Students Who Have Received Exemptions
• MITAGS East Academic Notes
• MITAGS West Academic Notes

U.S.-FLAG FLEET PUSHES BACK AGAINST CALLS TO WAIVE JONES ACT IN WAKE OF HURRICANE FIONA

Puerto Rico began receiving cargo from domestic shipping companies as soon after hurricane Fiona as the ports reopened for business, so there is no justification at all for a Jones Act waiver, the U.S. maritime industry says.

“Domestic vessel operators…were able to immediately restart operations,” says American Maritime Partnership President Ku’uhaku Park.

“We agree… that nothing is more important right now than the security, safety and well-being of fellow Americans in Puerto Rico, which is why the domestic American maritime industry is working around the clock to assist.”

After Fiona struck the island, eight members of Congress called on Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to issue a “one-year comprehensive waiver” of the Jones Act.

Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi has echoed the call.

Pushback from AMP, the coalition representing Jones Act operators and workers, was immediate.

“As soon as the Coast Guard lifted restrictions, Jones Act carriers had 2,000 containers in port and ready to unload, and another six ships arrived soon after with an additional 4,000,” Park told Mayorkas.

“The ability [of domestic vessel operators] to provide such prompt service to Puerto Rico is due to their preexisting investment in dedicated terminals, equipment, employees and vessels dedicated to the U.S.-Puerto Rico trade.”

Jones Act carriers have additional capacity to deliver relief cargoes as needed, he added.

Puerto Rico imports virtually all its refined petroleum products—gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene—­from non-U.S. sources aboard non-Jones Act tankers—so a waiver would not impact these shipments.

President Joe Biden, who has been an outspoken Jones Act advocate throughout his career, has given no indication that the administration would support a waiver.

MM&P and MIRAID are both members of AMP.
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MARAD ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CARGO PREFERENCE COMPLIANCE

The Maritime Administration announced new efforts aimed at supporting federal agencies’ compliance with cargo preference requirements following a hearing on the topic before the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

MARAD Administrator Ann Phillips testified at the hearing, as did MM&P President Don Marcus, who presented testimony on behalf of MM&P, AMO, ARA, MEBA, MFOW, SIU, the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department and the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department.

In a follow-up statement, Phillips announced that MARAD will issue a Request for Information to solicit input from all stakeholders on cargo preference requirements.

She also announced that MARAD will resume publishing comprehensive federal cargo preference data.

Publication of the data is intended to provide transparency regarding the movement of government-impelled cargo on both U.S.-flag and foreign-flag vessels, MARAD says.

Under cargo preference law, the Department of Defense must move 100 percent of its cargoes on U.S.-flag vessels.

In general, departments and agencies outside DOD must ship at least 50 percent of the gross tonnage of the equipment, materials, or commodities that they transport on U.S.-flag vessels.

“Cargoes paid for by American taxpayers belong on American ships,” Phillips said.

“Cargo preference requirements are not just ‘Buy America’ requirements, they are requirements that also help to strengthen America.”

She said MARAD is working with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Made in America Office to help agencies understand cargo preference requirements.

As part of the effort, MARAD is communicating with all federal departments and agencies to remind them of their obligations and to request that they each identify a Senior Accountable Official—consistent with OMB guidance—who can be a single point of contact with whom MARAD can work to implement cargo preference requirements.

In the unions’ testimony, Marcus underlined the fact that the merchant marine depends on cargo preference laws and the country depends on the merchant marine.

“Without cargo, there are no merchant ships and without U.S.-flag merchant ships, our military and economic independence cannot be sustained,” he testified.

The hearing was held against the backdrop of grave threats to cargo preference pending in the House and Senate in the form of concurrent resolutions.

One would waive Ship American rules indefinitely.

The other would divert cargoes to foreign carriers for an arbitrary three-year period.

A concurrent resolution does not need to be signed into law by the President to take effect.

It just needs to be passed by both Houses of Congress.

Marcus called on Congress to reject the concurrent resolutions and reverse the arbitrary reduction in cargo preference for food aid that was enacted in 2012.

It should be restored, he said, to at least 75 percent.
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FRIENDS OF MARITIME IN CONGRESS WORK TO BOOST FUNDING FOR FERRY SYSTEMS

Democrats in the House and the Senate have introduced legislation that would make the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Washington State Ferry System, and the Staten Island Ferry eligible for millions of dollars in new federal transit funding.

Congressman John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have introduced House and Senate bills seeking to extend additional funds to ferry systems through a number of competitive grant programs.

Their legislation, the Ferry Service Expansion Act, has gained bipartisan support.

It builds on the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, focusing investments on ferry projects nationwide that support clean energy.

Among other measures, the legislation would:

— boost grants from the Federal Highway Administration’s Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities Program by $180 million;

— increase the Federal Transit Administration’s Passenger Ferry Grant Program by $300 million;

— make a $1.25 billion investment in federal transit funding for passenger ferries serving metro areas such as San Francisco-Oakland and Seattle;

— allow states to use their federal Surface Transportation Block Grant for hovercraft ferry projects;

— make all Census Bureau-designated rural areas nationwide eligible for the Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law;

— make privately operated passenger ferries eligible to register for Capital Construction Funds with MARAD, allowing vessel operators to forgo paying federal business taxes on such vessels provided that all forgone tax payment is reinvested in constructing new U.S.-flag vessels in American shipyards.

Under current law, only cargo vessels and commercial fishing boats are eligible for this special tax exemption.

“I am thrilled to partner with Senator Murray from Washington State on this much-needed legislation to improve ferry service,” Garamendi said in a statement.

In the Bay Area, he said, it would:

— fuel expansion of ferry service to alleviate increasing congestion on bridges;

— provide more federal funding to help retrofit diesel WETA ferries to reduce emissions; and

— eventually fund replacement of the entire Bay Area fleet with zero-emission ferries built by American workers.
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SHIPS WARNED OVER GAS LEAKS FROM NORD STREAM PIPELINE

Two pipelines that deliver natural gas from Russia to Germany have been struck by leaks of unexplained origin, triggering warnings to the maritime industry and suspicions of sabotage.

Although Nord Stream 2 hadn’t yet started commercial operation, Nord Stream 1 provided Europe with gas until Moscow closed it earlier this month, saying it was in need of maintenance.

On Monday night, three leaks were detected: two in Nord Stream 1 and one in Nord Stream 2.

While neither pipeline was operating at the time, Reuters reported that both were filled with gas.

Sweden’s Maritime Authority warned ships to maintain a five nautical mile distance from the sites of the leaks, which were reported near the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm.

Denmark’s armed forces on Tuesday released video showing bubbles rushing to the surface above the pipelines, and said the largest leak had caused surface disturbance of more than 1 kilometer in diameter.

Denmark’s Maritime Authority warned that ships could lose buoyancy in the vicinity of the leaks and that there is also a risk of leaked gas on the surface of the water catching fire.

Authorities in Germany said they are investigating the cause of the leaks.

Sabotage is considered a distinct possibility, especially because both pipelines developed leaks at the same time.
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MM&P TAMPA HALL CLOSED DUE TO HURRICANE IAN

The Offshore Tampa Hall will be closed from Tuesday, Sept. 27, until Thursday, Sept. 29, because of Hurricane Ian. Depending on conditions, the hall may also be closed on Friday, Sept. 30. Further notifications to follow.
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SEATTLE MEMBERSHIP MEETING OCT. 4

A membership meeting will be held at the Seattle Hall at 15208 52nd Ave. South,
Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98188 on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, directly after the 11:00 Job
Call.

International President, Don Marcus & Vice President-Pacific Lars Turner, will be in
attendance to report and respond to questions.

If you have any items, you wish to have placed on the agenda or questions that
may require research please email them to lturner@bridgedeck.org or call Seattle Hall
at [206-441-8700].

All Offshore members and applicants are encouraged to attend.
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IN-PERSON MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN MM&P BOSTON HALL ON OCT. 18

MM&P Atlantic Ports Vice President Tom Larkin has scheduled an in-person membership meeting at the Boston Union Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 1100 EDT following job call.

All members and applicants are welcome to attend.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will participate in the meeting.

The Boston Union Hall is located at:

Marine Industrial Park

12 Channel St., Suite 606-A

Boston, MA 02210-2333

The phone number is: 617-671-0769.
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JOB OPENINGS ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are jobs for licensed and unlicensed personnel at Grand River Navigation and jobs for licensed officers at Key Lakes.

If you are interested, please contact MM&P Vice President Great Lakes & Gulf Region Vice President Tom Bell, tbell@bridgedeck.org, or (216) 776-1667.
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE!

Fully MSC trained LDO’s, all levels, needed for the Watson Class fleet. Jobs available today!

Tanker Chief Mates and 2nd mates needed with and without MSC Classes or Security Clearance.

Any Member or Applicant who already has a valid security clearance and is interested in taking the MSC courses required for Patriot Watson Class and Chesapeake Crewing vessels but does not have training eligibility to take the courses, please email Jeremy Hope, VP of Gulf Ports and Gov’t Contracts, at jhope@bridgedeck.org  with the words “MSC Training” in the subject line.

There is an immediate need for a 1/AE on the SLNC Corsica to join in Singapore.

Vacation: 28/30.

Contract pays into the Pension and all the fringe benefits.

Wage estimate for six months of work is approximately $165,000.

There is a company bonus of $500 for each 15-Day period served on board paid upon sign-off. There is no COVID vaccine requirement for this job.
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COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR ALL MITAGS STUDENTS; MITAGS REQUIRES NEGATIVE TEST FOR UNVACCINATED STUDENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED EXEMPTIONS

Full COVID vaccination is mandatory for everyone attending training on campus at MITAGS East and MITAGS West.

In addition, for unvaccinated participants who have received exemptions only, MITAGS requires a negative test within 72 hours of attendance and masks must be worn.

Contact MITAGS for information about exemptions.

Scans, photocopies, or electronic images of your Covid-19 vaccination cards (records) or certification by a medical provider are acceptable.

We appreciate your cooperation during these very trying times.
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MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

For registration contact our Admissions Department: 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

\\Classes are 5-day unless otherwise noted\\

Class dates followed by an * are full
AB – Able Seaman (5-Day): Not currently scheduled
AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC (4-Day) – Automated Radar Plotting Aids: Not currently scheduled

AZIPOD (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): 11/14/22

Online: Not currently scheduled

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day) : Not currently scheduled

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day) : Not currently scheduled

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day) : Not currently scheduled

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – 10/17/22, 11/14/22

BT-Refresher (3-day) – 11/14/22

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): : Not currently scheduled

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 10/24/22,

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 10/17/22, 12/12/22

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/31/22

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations – Week 1 (5-Day): 12/5/22

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/12/22

CM-OPS 2 APL – Chief Mate Operations II APL Specific – Not currently scheduled

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 10/10/22

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 11/14/22

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SEC-APPS – Practical Defense Tactics: Not Currently Scheduled

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 10/3/22*, 10/17/22, 12/5/22*

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 10/10/22*, 10/24/22, 11/14/22, 12/12/22*

**SHS-ADV-I & II are now approved to include SAR-CMM assessments at MITAGS**

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 10/3/22

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

WX-HW-ATL – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Atlantic Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-IND – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Indian Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – Not Currently Scheduled

CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program ** Online: Not currently scheduled

CIW-SMS – Continual Improvement Workshop: Successful Safety Management (2-Day) – Online: Not Currently Scheduled

CNAV-OIC (15-Day) – Celestial Navigation: 10/31/22

CRISIS-COMMS – Crisis Communications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CRSMGT – Crisis Management and Human Behavior (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CDMGT – Crowd Management (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE – Confined Space Entry (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE-AWR – Confined Space Entry Awareness (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

CY-MAR – Cyber-Skilled Mariner (5-Day) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – Not currently scheduled

Cyber-MAR-ONL – Cyber Skilled Mariner, Management of Information & Systems Security (Online Seminar) **NOT covered by the MATES Program ** – Not Currently Scheduled

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day) – 11/16/22

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 11/28/22

ADV-FF – Advanced Fire-Fighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 10/19/22, 11/16/22

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 11/17/22

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

Online: Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 12/12/22

IEN – Integrated Electronic Navigation (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/17/22

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross

Ton License (15-Day) : Not currently scheduled

LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): 11/14/22

LNG-TPIC (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments not included): 12/5/22

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 10/3/22*, 12/5/22*

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/28/2022

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: 10/3/22*

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 10/8/22, 10/17/22, 11/17/22, 12/10/2022, 12/23/22

–

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 11/5/22

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 11/4/22

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day) –11/3/22

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 11/7/22

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour) –11/4/22

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day) –11/6/22

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day) –11/11/22

NDMS-ENAV – Navigational Decision-Making Series – Best Practice in eNav (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 10/06/2022*, 12/19/2022*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (5-Day) – Contact Admissions

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day) – 10/3/22

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): Not currently scheduled

ROR-1 – Radar Observer Renewal (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/17/2022

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: Not Currently Scheduled

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day) : Not currently scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 11/07/22

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day) – 11/28/22

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: Not Currently Schedule

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not Currently Schedule

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Schedule

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): 11/16/22

TTT – ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **: Not currently scheduled

VPDSD – Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day) : Not currently scheduled

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not currently scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): Not currently scheduled
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MITAGS WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

2022 Fall/Winter

Schedule of Courses – Please also see our schedule and enroll online at www.mitags.org

For registration contact our admissions department: 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

October 2022
3-7 ECDIS

3-7 Leadership & Managerial Skills

12th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

13-14 Basic Training Revalidation

17-28 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

24-28 Advanced Stability

31-4 Advanced Meteorology

November 2022

1-4 ARPA

7-10 Advanced Firefighting

7-11 Leadership & Managerial Skills

7-11 Advanced Shiphandling I

14-18 Advanced Shiphandling II

14-16 Search & Rescue

14-18 Meteorology (Operational Level)

14th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

15-16 Basic Training Revalidation

28-9 GMDSS

28-2 Basic Training

28-9 Medical Person-In-Charge

28-16 License Preparation (Original Mate License)

December 2022

12-16 Tankerman Person-In-Charge

19th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

20-21 Basic Training Revalidation
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The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, 700 Maritime Blvd. Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973. All rights reserved. The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly©2021. Articles can be reprinted without prior permission if credit is given to The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly. For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor or to MM&P headquarters, e-mail communications@bridgedeck.org. Back issues of The Weekly are posted on www.bridgedeck.org